16.1.16

Some may disagree but for me a wrap shirt is a wardrobe essential, effortlessly elegant and adaptable. Here's my version, The ESSENTIAL WRAP SHIRT has been designed for lightweight woven fabrics and features long ties that wrap around the body, 3/4 length flared sleeves and side splits.

10.1.16

A new pattern nearing completion called the ESSENTIAL WRAP SHIRT requires cotton tape to be attached to the front edges, here's why you need it and how to attach it.

When sewing jersey fabrics a light weight stretchy tape can be added to the shoulder seam to help maintain the shape. Select a rubber tape like the ones shown below.

For woven garments a woven tape is used. It reinforces seams and helps to stabilize edges (especially when they are on the bias) in order to prevent stretching.

The
ESSENTIAL WRAP SHIRT is made from woven fabric and has two long angled
front edges which are effectively on the bias. Unless the edges are
taped they will stretch anddevelop a wavy appearance which in turn effects the fit.

Press the fabric piece along the edge. With the wrong side facing up and with the tape placed on top, overlock along the edge catching the tape into the stitching. Take care not to stretch either the fabric or the tape.

Once complete this is how it looks. In this case the edge is then folded twice and top stitched so the tape is hidden inside and the edge will not stretch.

3.1.16

I'm currently wearing in a new pair of raw denim jeans, in fact I'm wearing them right now. 10oz Japanese selvedge denim, 17 weeks without a wash and the creases are just starting to show signs of abrasion, they are truly a thing of beauty.

This definitely wasn't an impulse buy, I needed to replace my old pair and I probably looked for about a year before I found the perfect style. In the end I went for Nudie's TIGHT LONG JOHN and not just because of the fit. Nudie produce their denim from 100% organic cotton and the company embraces the idea that your denim can be repaired, reused and eventually recycled. You can read more right here.

Denim
is a beautiful fabric to work with and wear but it's not just for jeans. The
London based design duo at Marques' Almeida definitely inspire a greater
level experimentation through their creative use of the fabric.

With all of this in mind I decided to try something a little different recycling 2 pairs of old jeans which I turned into a jacket using the ESSENTIAL WRAP SHIRT pattern. You can check out the results and the HOW TO by scrolling down the page.